Game



zmmm Febe 25, i936. K. c. SHYVERS GAME j Filed Sept; 26, 1935 6 'llillllllill Patented Feb. 25, 1936 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to game apparatus of the type in which objects, such as balls, or the like, are caused to be projected over a playing surface, which is provided with suitably arranged openings or pockets, suitably guarded for rendering it somewhat diificult tocause the objects to enter said openings or pockets. Said openings or pockets are provided with certain numerical designations so as to renderthegame amusing and entertaining and to cause the player to exercise skill in his endeavor to obtain as high a score as possible.

One of the objects of the invention resides in the provision of a novel game board having a plurality of suitably arranged openings therein and means provided on said board for permitting the projection of objects onto the same, said board having mechanism associated therewithfor causing the first object projected onto the board to travel in the path of travel of the next succeeding projected object, whereby by proper skill and manipulation, said first projected object maybe struck by the second projected object at such a point as to cause the said first object to enter an opening in said game board of a high numerical designation.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a game board having novel and improved means associated therewith forpermitting the projection of objects thereover, said first-mentioned means being so arranged as to cause an object projected thereonto on said board to eventually reach a point in its travel over said board where it will be in the path of travel of the next succeeding projected'object, whereby by proper skill such first object may be caused to be struck by said next projected object at such a point and time as to cause the same to enter an opening in the game board bearing a high numerical designation.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved game board having a plurality of openings provided therein each bearing a numerical designation and means for projecting objects onto said game board for entrance into said openings, and means associated with said board for causing the projected ob-- jects projected thereonto eventually reach a point on said board which will lie in the path of travel of the next succeeding projected object, and thereby be adapted to be struck by said object to defiect the same towards openings of high numerical designations.

A still further object of the invention is toprovide a' noveland improved amebcardhwing parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the board, for convenience, is mounted ina casing means associated with said boardfor permitting some of said objects projected thereonto to come to a stop and have a portion of the periphery thereof disposed in the path of travel of the next succeeding projected object, whereby by proper skill and manipulation the said first mentioned object may be struck by the second object'with 10 such predetermined force and at such a point as to cause the same to enter an opening of high numerical designation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a game of the character described which will 5 be simple in construction, assembly and operation, which may be produced along lines convenient for low cost manufacture, and which will be highly efficient for carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing. from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing, a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which when considered in connection with the following description, my invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawing in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a cabinet within which my improved game may be mounted; and

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the game board embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing more specifically by r characters of reference, the numeral l0 designates a playing board or table over which spherical objects, such as metal balls, marbles, etc., indicated at H, may be projected. The playing 2 and is disposed at an elevation to the horizontal, the direction of tilt being upward from the end at which the operator stands. The surface of the playing board is provided with a plurality of openings I3, said openings being of a size to permit the passage therethrough of the spherical objects I A plurality of studs or nails 4, or other suitable means such as the leaf springs l5, are suitably arranged around certain of said openings and along desired points on the board to render it difficult to direct the projectile into the openings of high numerical designations without the exercise of skill on the part of the operator.

Disposed directly below the board In is a sliding member l6, which member is normally held in position to retain the balls in the openings or pockets I3 within which they are disposed or received during the playing of the game. After all of the balls have been projected onto the playing surface It, to further operate the game it is necessary to actuate a coin control mechanism which may be of any suitable and well known construction, the operation of which is well known in the art, said coin control mechanism being controlled by the coin slide IT for releasing the balls to bring the same into position to be elevated into the projection chute by an elevator l8 which may also be of the usual and well known construction and the operation of which is well known in the art.

The device has also associated with it a projectcr IQ of usual and well known construction as well as a suitable anti-tilt device also of usual and well known construction, the operation of which is well known in the art. As the coin control mechanism, elevator, projector, and antitilt device form no part of the present invention, it is not believed necessary to describe the same in more detail.

In addition to the scoring pockets l3 and studs and other barriers provided on the playing surface of the board, said surface is surrounded by a ledge 20, along which the ball will travel when projected onto the playing board by the pro-- jector H! from the chute 2|, the chute extending about half way up the board. The ledge 20 is provided with an inwardly extending projection 22 arranged at an angle of about 60 and extending from the right hand side of the board intermediate the ends thereof. Disposed adjacent the upper end of the playing surface of the board is a suitably curved rail or fence 23, the forward end 24 of which is arranged in position to have the ball roll against the inner side thereof when it leaves the end of the projection 22. Thus it will be noted that a substantially S-shaped track is provided over which the ball is to travel on the surface of the board.

Arranged inwardly of the rail 23 is a curved row of studs 25 driven into the board, said studs defining with said rail 23 a substantially semicircular track 26 which track is arranged so as to surround the openings or scoring pockets I3 provided in the upper portion of the playing surface.

The other end of the track 28 terminates at a point substantially directly above the exit from the tube 2| with the end 21 of the rail 23 being disposed directly above the inner side of the chute 2|, so that the ball projected from said chute will travel along the outer side of the rail 23, along the inner side of the extension 22 which will deflect it against the inner side of the rail 23. When the ball approaches the end of the track 26, it will be substantially slowed down by suitable studs provided in its path and also by a leaf spring member 28, one end of which is secured to one of said studs and the other end defining with the free end of the rail a passage just large enough to permit the ball to pass therethrough. When the ball has left the track 26 it will travel at a comparatively low rate of speed and will be in a position to be struck by the next projected ball issuing from the chute 2!.

The player will now have the next ball ready to shoot and by properly manipulating the same he may cause said ball to strike the first projected ball at such a point and with such force as to cause said first ball to be deflected in the direction of the openings or coring pockets 13 provided in the upper portion of the board, which pockets it will be noted bear the higher numerical designations. In order to aid the player in manipulating and timing the second shot, there is provided on the surface of the board suitable markings, such, for example, as the lines 29, 39 and 3|, which markings will indicate to the player the approximate time when the second ball shall be actuated in order to obtain the best results.

In addition to the above markings, the board may also have provided thereon the indicators 32 and 33 which is the best position for the balls to contact each other in order to score the highest number of points. It will also be noted from the above that should the player be too early or too late in making his second shot with the result that the first ball is entirely missed by said second ball, the first ball will move towards the chute 2| and will be disposed therein in position for actuation by the player l9. This will give the player a second chance for a so-called billiard shot to the scoring pockets of high numerical designations by reason of the fact that the second projected ball will travel along the path of the first projected ball and eventually reach the position where it may be shot at by the ball just deposited in the chute 2 The game also provides for what may be termed a spot shot. This will be possible when the first projected ball is caused to travel at such a rate of speed as to permit it to enter the passage 34 provided in the curved row of studs 25 through which passage it may pass down the board to- Wards the extension 22 to roll along the upper surface 35 thereof to be deposited at the lower portion thereof against a stop 36, which stop forms a continuation of the inner side wall of the chute 2|. opening 31 through which a portion of the periphery of the ball may extend, as shown in the drawing. This extended portion of the ball will, of course, be projected into the chute 2| and will thereby lie in the path of travel of a projected ball from said chute. The player may now shoot the next ball with such force as he may think necessary so as to strike the ball deposited against the stop 36 to deflect the same in a direction of the openings of high numerical designations.

Other barriers or hazards may be provided on the playing surface of the board to make the game more interesting, and in the embodiment illustrated, there are provided a plurality of coiled springs 38, 39, 40 and 4| arranged along the surface of the board, as shown in Fig. 2, said springs having their ends secured to suitable studs 32 driven into the board.

In operation, the coin slide I1 is actuated to release the balls for play and the operation of the Said stop 36 is provided with an c- :or "said path for'causing the projectile to emerge therefrom tomove to a position on the playing elevator I8 will now 'deposit'one o! the balls- I l 'in the'chute'zl for actuation' by the plunger. If it is desired to place the first projected ball in positio'nfor what may be termed'a billiard shot, the same shall be projected with considerable force so as to cause it to travelal1 the way around the track 26 at the end of which it will be slowed down by the studs and" springs disposed in its-path, so that it will emerge from the front endof said track at a relatively low speed.

The player has by this time operated the elevator'to place a second ball in the chute ready for his second shot. The player will now wait and timehis second shot so as to cause said second ball to strike said first ball when they are -approximately at the points 32 and 33 on the board. To aid the player in bringing about the contact of the balls in that position, he may utilize the markings 29, 353 and'3l. Thus when the first ball in its downward travel after it leaves the track 26 reaches the center line 30, the player should then makehis second shot, and if properly timed, the contact of the two balls will be approximately at the points 32 and 33.

The contact of said balls will cause the first ball to be deflected in the direction of the scoring pockets in the upper portion of the board, which pockets, as already stated, bear the higher numerical designations. If, however, the player should make his second shot so as to miss contacting the first ball, the latter will be returned to the chute 2| and will be in position for a shot at the second projected ball.

If desired, the player may so control the speed of the first projected ball as to cause it to enter through the passage 34 in the row of studs 25, whereby said ball may eventually reach the position against the stop 36 with a portion of its periphery extending through the opening 31 into the chute 2 l. The player may now project a ball for the purpose of striking said first projected ball, and if properly executed, this shot may cause said first ball to be deflected in the direction of scoring pockets of high numerical designations.

The glass panel 43 is mounted above the game board Iii in the casing I2, said glass panel preventing direct access to the balls, thus insuring the proper operation of the game as well as making it possible to entirely control the use of the apparatus by the coin operated mechanism associated therewith.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a game apparatus including a playing board having a plurality of scoring pockets provided with numerical designations within which a projectile may be deposited, those pockets disposed adjacent the upper portion of the board bearing the higher numerical designations, means for projecting a projectile onto the playing board including a projecting chute, and means on said board including a guide and a plurality of barriers arranged to cause the projectile projected onto the playing board to travel a substantially S-shaped path, means provided adjacent the end board which will place it in the path of travel of the next succeeding projectile as the latter emerges'from the projecting chute, whereby the 'first'projectile may be struck by the second projectilefor deflecting it in the direction of scoring pockets bearing high numeral designations.

2. In a game apparatus including a playing board having a plurality of scoring pockets pro- 1ii vided with numerical designations within which a projectile may be deposited, those pockets disbarriers for causing the projectile projected there- 'on to travel a substantially S-shaped path with the end of said path being disposed so that a?! projectile emerging therefrom will be substantially in the path of travel of the next succeeding projected projectile, whereby by proper timing of the last mentioned projectile the same may be caused to strike said first projectile at such a point as to cause the latter to travel in a direction of scoring pockets bearing high numerical designations, and means provided adjacent the end of said S-shaped path for considerably slowing up the speed of the projectile as it emerges therefrom.

3. In a game apparatus including a playing board having a plurality of scoring pockets of varying numerical designations and within which a projectile may be deposited, those pockets disposed adjacent the upper portion of the board bearing the higher numerical designations, means for projecting a projectile onto the playing board including a projecting chute, means provided on said board including a guide and a plurality of barriers for causing the first projectile projected thereonto to travel to a position which will place it substantially in the path of travel of the next succeeding projected projectile as the latter emerges from the projecting chute, whereby by imparting the proper force to the second projectile it may be directed so as to strike the first projectile at such a point as to deflect the same in the direction of scoring pockets of high numerical designations, and means associated with one of said barriers for causing a slowing down of the speed of the projectile as it approaches the position which will place it in the path of travel of the next succeeding projected projectile.

4. In a game apparatus including a playing board normally inclined to the horizontal and having a plurality of scoring pockets provided with numerical designations within which an object may be deposited, those pockets disposed adjacent the upper portion of the board bearing the higher numerical designations, means for projecting an object onto the playing board, means provided on said board including a guide and a plurality of barriers for causing the first object projected thereon to travel to a position which will place it in the path of travel of the next succeeding projected object, and means for considerably slowing down the speed of said first projected object as it approaches the path of travel of the next projected object whereby by proper timing of the second projected object the same may be caused to strike said first object at such a point on the board and with such force as to cause it to be deflected in a direction of scoring pockets of high numerical designations.

5. In a game apparatus including a playing board having a plurality of scoring pockets provided with numerical designations within which an object may be deposited, those pockets disposed adjacent the upper portion of the board bearing the higher numerical designations, means for projecting an object onto the playing board including a projecting chute, one wall of said projecting chute being provided with a perforation, a guide disposed along said last mentioned Wall of the chute and terminating adjacent said perforation to form a rest for a projected object, said perforation being of a size to permit the passage therethrough of only a portion of the periphery of the object when brought to rest on said guide, means provided on said board for permitting the first object projected thereonto to be received and held on said guide with a portion of its periphery extending through said perforation and into the projecting chute whereby by imparting the proper force to the next succeeding object the same may be caused to strike said first object to deflect the same in the direction of scoring pockets of high numerical designations.

6. In a game apparatus including a playing board having a plurality of scoring pockets within which an object may be deposited, means for projecting an object onto said playing board including a projecting chute, means provided on said board including a guide and a plurality of curved barriers disposed adjacent the upper portion of the board for causing the first object projected thereonto to travel a substantially S- shaped path, the end of said curved barriers being arranged so as to cause the object emerging therefrom tomove to a position on the board Where it will be substantially in the path of travel of the next succeeding projected object and to be deposited in the projecting chute for actuation by the projecting means should the second projected object fail to strike the same.

KENNETH C. SHYVERS. 

